6
MONTHS - 1 YEAR
The
types of injuries that occur in this age group are related
mostly to the environment of the child. Since an infant starts
with very limited mobility and then becomes a mobile child,
many injuries occur when new developmental stages such as
rolling, crawling, or walking begin.
Also,
if a home is not child proofed, many children will sustain
an injury due to unprotected household appliances, furniture,
outlets, faucets, blinds, and many other common areas. It
is important to get to the height level of the child and go
around the house checking for any potentially dangerous areas.
Helpful hints for this age group include:
1.
All medicines and poisonous substances should be locked and
out of reach of children;
2.
All small objects, plastic bags and balloons, which can cause
choking, should be inaccessible;
3. All sharp objects such as knives or scissors should be
inaccessible;
4.
All electrical outlets should be covered;
5.
Syrup of Ipecac, which promotes vomiting, should be available
as well as a number of your local poison control center;
6. Babies should be supervised near all pools, tubs or high
places. Drowning can occur even in a bucket of water or toilet
bowl;
7.
A baby can pull all dangling electric cords, blinds or tablecloths.
These should be placed in such a position as to avoid this
from happening;
8. All furniture such as dressers or chests of drawers should
be securely latched to the wall to prevent being pulled on
top of a child. Many children will pull out drawers and try
to climb on a chest of drawers only to have it tip over and
fall on them;
9.
All curling irons, irons, hot liquids and other objects should
be unreachable;
10.
Sunscreen of at least 15 SPF should be used for outdoor activities;
11.
Insect repellent containing up to 10% DEET should be used
in places where insects are prevalent. Children should be
checked for tick attachments if they live in an area of tick
settlements;
12.
Car seats should be used for all car trips and the car seat
should be in the back seat facing backwards until at least
one year of age and twenty pounds. Parents should always use
a seat belt. The Auto Safety Hotline number is 1-888-327-4236;
13. Infant walkers should never be used since many children
sustain serious injuries with these. These infant walkers
also inhibit normal walking;
14. Extension cords should have electric tape wrapped around
the junctions;
15.
Parents should know CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Call
the American Heart Association at 1-800-242-8721 for information;
16.
Safety gates should be placed at the top and bottom of all
staircases;
17.
Windows should be closed and locked or guarded. Screens are
not enough to prevent a child from falling through a window;
18. Guns should be safely stored and locked;
19.
The hot water heater of the house should be 120 degrees Fahrenheit
(50.0 degrees Celsius) to prevent accidental scalding;
20.
All cooking pots and pans should be on the back burner with
the handles facing the back;
21.
Do not store poisons in drinking bottles, glasses or jars;
22. Outdoor play should be closely monitored;
23. All pools or hot tubs should have fences on all four side;
24.
Children should not be placed on a bicycle;
25.
Store toys in a chest without a dropping lid to avoid harming
the fingers;
26. All houses should have a smoke detector, fire extinguisher
and fire escape plan;
27.
Contact with pets should be closely monitored;
28.
Install only garage door openers with sensors so they will
not close on a child;
29.
All baby sitters should be at least 13 years of age, mature
enough to handle emergencies, and known and trusted by the
parents;
30.
All of these safety precautions should be present in any home,
daycare, preschool, mother's day out, friend or family location.
|
Child Safety
|
Birth
to 5 Months
| 6
Months to 1 Year
| 1
Year to 3 Years
|
|
4 Years to 7 Years
| 8
Years to 11 Years
| 12
Years to 18 Years
|
|
Further
Reading
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